LET’S GET THE PARTY STARTED FOR PADDY’S DAY!

HAPPY St Patrick’s Day!

Around the globe, people will be raising a toast to all things Irish today as they sink 13 million pints of Guinness!

Here presents 17 fascinating facts you never knew about the biggest party on the planet... Despite being Ireland’s patron saint, Patrick was actually born in Britain. It is said that he was kidnapped by pirates aged 16 and ended up working as a shepherd in Ireland. Later in life, after escaping, he returned to the country as Bishop to spread Christianity. He died on March 17, 461 AD.

It’s also a myth that he banished snakes from Ireland as there weren’t any. Also, for centuries the colour associated with St Patrick wasn’t green – it was blue.

It’s traditional to wear a shamrock as Patrick used them to explain the Holy Trinity to pagans. The odds of finding a four-leaf example are 10,000/1.

Lots of people dress up as leprechauns on St Patrick’s Day. The bearded characters started off as fairies in Irish folklore and originally had red pointed hats and jackets – with white beards. Ever since St Patrick supposedly ticked off an innkeeper for serving a short measure of whiskey, it has been traditional to raise a glass to him on his day.

Until the 1970s, the pubs in Ireland actually used to close on March 17 out of respect.

Brits knock back the most Guinness globally. The famous black stout is actually ruby red, and the Guinness brewery has been in Dublin since 1759. It is now brewed in 47 countries.

A pint contains 300million bubbles and the perfect pour of a pint of Guinness should take 119.5 seconds, served at 6C.

The old slogan that “Guinness is good for you” may be true. Scientists have discovered that a pint of stout may work as well as a low dose of aspirin to prevent blood clots. Celebrity fans include 007 star Daniel Craig, actor Tom Cruise, former US President Barack Obama and singer Beyonce – as well as Kim Kardashian and Kayne West, who honeymooned in Ireland. Other famous Irish tipples are Baileys and Jameson’s whiskey, while traditional foods include soda bread and Irish stew.

Famous Irish celebrities include models Vogue Williams and Nadia Forde, U2 singer Bono and actor Colin Farrell.

A recent poll found that the Irish were actually the most sexually active nation.

Some seven million people attend St Patrick’s Day parades around the world. The first one took place in Boston in the US in 1737, and some of the biggest are now in Dublin and New York.

In Chicago they even turn the river green, below, with 25lb of vegetable dye. Around six million people living in Britain have an Irish grandparent, while nearly a million Irish-born people live here.

There are plenty of events around the UK, too, including London’s St Patrick’s Day Festival.

Today’s biggest parade will be in Birmingham, where some 90,000 people will celebrate.